David O'Leary will leave a decision on his injured knee until the weekend, saying he is "touch and go".

The 24-year-old has started five of the last six matches which ended a barren run since his last start in the league, ironically against City at Eastlands in October.

Samuel was substituted at half-time in the 3-1 defeat in October when he gifted Vassell the first of his two goals. But the full-back insists he has nothing to prove.

"I can understand why some people might think I have, but I will continue to prove to myself what I can do," said Samuel. "Some people are saying I am playing like I was in days of old. I'm feeling good and have nothing to prove, just to myself."

Samuel, though, faces a tough ask to shake off his sore knee with Gareth Barry and Liam Ridgewell on stand-by to drop into defence.

"It's too early to say, but hopefully I can make it," he said. "I've been enjoying my football and I'd be very disappointed if I lost my place. It's a big game and I want to play."

Samuel has urged Villa fans not to jeer Vassell who hit 35 league goals in 162 appearances for Villa.

"It'll be Darius' first game back at Villa and it will undoubtedly be a big occasion for him. He's a Birmingham lad through and through and always loved the club.

"He gave everything to Villa and deserves to be cheered, not booed. He played extremely well against us at City when he really did come back and haunt us. It's our job to stop him doing it again."

Samuel admits that Villa must improve defensively in order to stop Vassell.

"We showed in the second half against Newcastle the team we are, but defensively as a back-four we felt that we could have been much stronger.

"We didn't have the resilience that we had in previous games. We have to take the positives out of that game though.

"There were so many in that second half when we showed what we can do if we really want to. We have to start games the way we want to finish."

Lee Hendrie has been passed fit to face City while Steven Davis should play as he is set to resume training tomorrow following a calf injury. Craig Gardner (knee) is out.

O'Leary said: "There's no problem with Hendrie. And the fact that Gavin McCann and James Milner return is a big boost.

"It is still possible that Jlloyd will be fit and we obviously have our fingers crossed, but we are more hopeful about Davis as it is a Sunday game and he has an extra day to rest a soft tissue injury."